Evaluation of the Performance of Saudi Students in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) Between 2019–2023: A Benchmarking Comparison with their Peers in the G20 Countries

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the performance of Saudi students in the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) from 2019 to 2023, through benchmarking their results against peers from G20 countries. The objective was to identify the extent of competitiveness of Saudi participants at the international level and to highlight performance gaps that require intervention. The descriptive-analytical method was employed as the research approach, supported by statistical techniques including arithmetic mean, standard deviation, Z-score, and T-score. The study sample consisted of 30 Saudi students (28 males and 2 females) who officially participated in the IMO under the supervision of the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba). Six students participated annually, carefully selected after several qualifying stages and examinations. Raw scores were standardized to enable valid comparisons and classification of performance into high, medium, or low levels. The findings indicated that Saudi students generally performed at an “average” level, with the exception of 2020, which recorded a “low” level. Although some improvement appeared in 2022, negative Z-scores confirmed that overall performance remained below the global average, reflecting a persistent gap with G20 countries. Performance varied significantly by problem type: students achieved stronger results on Problem 1 (P1), while struggling with more complex problems such as P3 and P4. Differences also emerged across mathematical domains, with “average” outcomes in number theory, polygons, probability, and circles, but “low” outcomes in sequences, truth tables, and quadrilaterals. In light of these results, the study recommends more specialized training programs, instructional strategies aligned with IMO complexity, and enriched curricula with challenging problems across diverse mathematical domains to bridge performance gaps and strengthen competitiveness.